Looking to bring in the new year, as you travel round the world ? Monitoring Times can help you as you traverse the globe in 24 hours. Happy New Year Around the World in 24 Hours, can be found at http://www.monitoringtimes.com/Around-in-24-hrs.pdf One caution though, don't toast each new hour as you may not make the full 24 hour journey!

For Roy Forbes fans, you may want to swing over to Alberta radio station, CKUA (available on the internet at www.ckua.com) He has a one hour show called Roy's Record Room at 6 pm MST (8 pm EST) on Mondays. This week he has special broadcast from 8 to 9 MST on New Year's Day. (John Fisher/ODXA)

New Years Eve Extended Broadcast HoursRadio Ferrymead 1413 AM Christchurch NZA possible long distance 'DX' catch for listeners in Australia and North America is RadioFerrymead in Christchurch, New Zealand. It will stay on air until after midnight local time [1100 UTC] on December 31 with traditional New Years Eve programs of music, celebrations,midnight countdown.The format is nostalgia, so the music will range from 1930's-1970's and nearly all music is broadcast using original 78, 45 and 33 rpm recordings.A well maintained 1kW transmitter running at proper modulation levels and a well engineered tower on swampland by the coast and two river estuaries combine to give Radio Ferrymead a clear 'old fashioned' signal.The station is run by volunteers, including ex-broadcasters and amateur radio enthusiasts.Radio Ferrymead also uses the ID '3XP' as a throwback to previous decades when NZ stations used callsigns. 'Your love affair with yesteryear'. The other NZ station on 1413 is NewstalkZB in Tokoroa which usually runs a nostalgia program on Sunday nights as well so listen carefully!Happy New Year 2007 from the team at the Radio Heritage Foundation, You can find us at 1. www.radioheritage.net(HCDX)

Hamburg Lokalradio New Year programming Germany's non-commercial station Hamburger Lokalradio, has planned special new year's programming on Jan. 1st. Thereafter, the station plans to broadcast from January 8, on each Sunday throughout 2007. The station broadcast on 6045 kHz at 1100-1200 UTC.Hamburg Lokaradio airs via T-Systems International via Julich, Germany using 100 kW, monopole verticle cache antenna, nor-directional to Europe.

As every year at this time IRRS-Shortwave will run some additional broadcast at high power (150 kW) around Christmas and the New Year.Although we will be beaming to Europe, North Africa and Middle East, weexpect that reception will also be possible outside our target ares in theAmericas, Asia and Australia.New Years Eve programming includes:

On Sunday Dec. 31, 2006:on 9310 kHz from 0930-1030 UTC (150 kW) we will broadcast a specialprogram from Radio Rasant www.radiorasant.org The student radio from Sundern in Germany, followed by our usual Sunday schedule.

We will appreciate receiving your reception reports for any of ourbroadcasts.You can email reports @ nexus.org We will reply and answer all your requests by email, and forward yourreception reports to our broadcasters for further verification by letteror QSL. We hope you can enjoy our members programs during this Christmas season. For those outside our main target areas, you can also tune to our simulcast streaming on Internet at http://mp3.nexus.org>

The following loggings, represent what has been heard by DXers monitoring Bolivia, from World Wide DX Club and DSWCI . All time UTC.

GVH

BOLIVIA 4694.7 Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, with Flauta Boliviana 17December, good signal no ID; 0945 on 18 December 4694.8 flauta and om,noID; 4695.1 on 19 December. Station had similar frequency drift while on4901.

4694.7, R San Miguel, Riberalta, 1000-1020 and 2240-2255, Dec 17, Flauta Boliviana, no ID; 0945 on Dec 18 on 4694.8 flauta and ann, no ID; 4695.1 on Dec 19, good signal. Station had similar frequency drift while on 4901. (Wilkner). Also heard on 4694.54 – 4695.2 at 1030-1040, Dec 16 and 2235-2330 on Dec 17, Andean music, talks and IDs in Spanish. (Bolland, Grimm and Groppazzi, PIA27). An open carrier was noted here in Denmark on 4695.38 at 0010 on Dec 21. (Petersen). New frequency. Cf. UNID in DX-Window no. 313. (Ed)

SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER*** Amsterdam Forum ***A special music programme replaces both Amsterdam Forum and Dutch Extra this week. From Sunday 7 January, Dutch Extra will be replaced by a new 10 minute feedback programme, presented by Mindy Ran.New Year's Eve is fast approaching and so once again it's time to get on those dancing shoes and party. So, in a special programme to replace Amsterdam Forum, join Chris Chambers as he travels around the world in search of the very best in world dance music. He goes to Senegal, and Cuba. The Dutch Antilles and Cameroon. You'll hear music from some of the great names like Manu Dibango, Sekou Bembeya Diabaté and one of the Netherlands' best jazz singers Izaline Calister.So, join Chris Chambers for an all star cast from around the world to end the year with a smile on your face.Have your say on the topic atwww.radionetherlands.nl/features/amsterdamforum/.Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1004 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1204 (Eastern N America), 1504 (South Asia), 1804 & 2004 (Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0500 (Western N America)

This is our special NEW YEAR EDITION, and it runs to 16 mins and 42 seconds, containing lots of professionally researched and sourced shortwave updated schedules and news, unavailable in the public domain, and monitoring data made from Melbourne.

This is what Electronic DX Press member Michael Stevenson, from PortMacquarie, New South Wales, Australia said, "Show 24 was very useful and helpful with some good news and tips. Please keep them coming as it is the most accurate information available in the forever changing world of broadcasting! Thanks for this edition and bestwishes and have a terific Christmas!"

If you haven't subscribed (free) to the feed, you may do this at the site using Feedblitz. This means that the shows will come to you whenever newprograms are released! The Australian DX Report audio/video presentations continue to attractinterest by people around the world, with several hundreds of downloads every week. I would be glad if you would be able to distribute this message to your radio monitoring friends, the radio communications media, or within yourDXing organisation.Thank you and best regards from Melbourne, Australia!Bob Padula

Bogota's main plaza was awash with weekend Christmas cheer and lights, but from a tent nearby dozens of families were broadcasting somber messages of hope to relatives held hostage by rebels in Colombia's remote jungles. Mothers, sons and brothers took turns at a microphone in the makeshift radio studio to send Christmas greetings they hoped would reach victims kidnapped by Marxist guerrillas fighting a four-decade war. Prayers mixed with music and family anecdotes during Saturday's early hours broadcast of "Voices of Kidnapping", a program transmitted across Colombia each week with Radio Caracol presenter Herbin Hoyos, himself a kidnap survivor.

"Daddy, the most important thing is that you stay well and try to keep up your spirits," said Liliana Bustos, whose father, Hernan, was kidnapped more than six years ago. Though we have no news from you, we will always be here."

Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, one of Washington's closest allies, has cracked down on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in a U.S.-backed drive to end their insurgency. Violence and kidnapping have decreased but the FARC, Colombia's largest rebel group, is still fighting. After ending efforts to reach out to the guerrillas earlier this year following several attacks, Uribe now says he is willing to hold talks over the release of hostages, including soldiers, lawmakers and three U.S. military contractors who were captured in 2003.

That message has kindled a cautious hope for the families of the hundreds of kidnap victims such as Gustavo Moncayo. Nine years ago the Christmas week his soldier son Pablo was captured by the FARC during an attack on his army post.

"He was nearly 19 and turned 19 out there in the jungle, and now he is 28," Moncayo said, carrying a large picture of his son in uniform and military cap. This hits us hard. For my family this time is filled with nostalgia, sadness that there is a loved one out there waiting for the government and the guerrillas to sit down."

Uribe has agreed to allow France, Switzerland and Spain to resume their efforts to help negotiate an exchange of jailed FARC fighters for kidnap victims as an initial step to ending Colombia's conflict. Hoyos, the radio presenter who began his program in 1994 after he was rescued after 17 days in FARC captivity, says he hopes he will soon have no need to broadcast his messages. "This is the dose of life they need," he said at the vigil. "It's like the fuel the kidnap victims need to keep going and stay alive out there in the jungle." (Patrick Markey, Reuters, Bogota, Dec 24, via Wilkner)

6210.0, R Nacional República Arabe Saharaui, Rabouni, Algeria, 2200-2345, Dec 23 and 26, new frequency ex 6208, long Arabic talks and lots of local songs and music, 2300 into Spanish with clear ID’s "Radio Nacional de Sahara" and more songs. At 2330 news review in Spanish. Good signal on clear channel, 44444. Heard again this morning, Dec 24, with usual format of Arabic talks, songs and music to close at 0900*, 35443. (Ford and Petersen)

6215, R Nacional República Arabe Saharaui, Rabouni, Algeria, 2200-2336, Dec 12 and 17, new frequency ex 7245, Arabic talks, 2300 Spanish program noted while looking for R Baluarte, Argentina. Rustic vocals with nice IDs at 2325 followed by long political talk. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo/FCDX, Ransmann). Also noted at *1700-1730, Dec 18, New sign on time with the National anthem of the Sahrawi Democratic Republic, Arabic frequency ann of 1550 MW, 7425 and 700 MW in meter band and KHz, still announcing the ex frequency of 7425, followed by Holy Quran recitation and local songs. Around 1730 introduction of a program called the "Journey of the night", playing Egyptian and Lebanese music asking listeners to participate in the program followed by another local hit. (Zeidan)

6348, Echo of Hope, Kimp’o, South Korea, 1437-1442, Dec 25, weird version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", with a relentless beat and lyric presumably in Korean. 1442 "Jingle Bells" in another unique version. (Hauser)

Factual entertainment network Discovery Channel will become available exclusively on Orbit in the Middle East region from January 1st 2007. Discovery Channel delivers informative and entertaining factual content to a target demographic of young, upscale men aged 25 – 39. Discovery Science, the only network devoted to the wonders of science, including in-depth coverage of current science news, will also join the Orbit line-up in early January 2007.The introduction of Discovery Channel and Discovery Science to Orbit brings the total number of Discovery Networks available on Orbit to three; Animal Planet, a joint venture network between Discovery and BBC Worldwide which reflects mankind’s eternal fascination with the creatures that share our world, has been available on the platform since January 2002. The three channels are programmed 24 hours a day in English and are also subtitled in Arabic on the Orbit platform.(Source: Orbit/ R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Due to Voice of America’s coverage of the funeral of former President Gerald R Ford, Kim Andrew Elliott’s next appearance on VOA’s Talk to America, for a discussion about international broadcasting, has been postponed until Monday 8 January. The programme follows the news at 1400 UTC on shortwave and via the VOA News Now Windows Media or RealPlayer live audio streams. You can join the conversation by calling +1-202-619-3111 or e-mail to talk@voanews.com.

The Balad Ruz mayor, along with members of the Iraqi Army and Police, city officials and Soldiers from the 5th Squadron, 73rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Balad Ruz radio station on 18 December.The opening of the Al Noor Radio Station, also known as “The Light,” will allow the community to get up to date news and information in their homes – information other than what the terrorists want to put out, said Mayor Mohamed Maroof al-Hussein, mayor of Balad Ruz.“This is a great day for Balad Ruz and its people,” said Al-Hussein. “I think this is a new stage for our city and a new way to serve our people.” “This is a free station,” he continued. “The people can say what they want. The people can speak freely.”After the ceremony, spectators were given a tour of the new facility and spoke with the new employees. Until the employees are further trained, the station, which is now up-and-running, will start its operations at 7 am and end at 1 pm.“I hope this new service will encourage other cities to start stations to better serve their people,” said Al-Hussein.(Source: Multi-National Corps – Iraq/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

The end of the year marks the end of an era in Finnish broadcast history. On 31 December, YLE - the Finnish Broadcasting Company will transmit its final shortwave broadcast. For half a century, shortwave radio was the only way to stay in touch with home. But YLE decided earlier this year to close down all international shortwave broadcasts in favour of Internet, mobile and satellite services.Finland’s first pre-war short wave broadcasts were transmitted from Lahti, former home of the nation’s only longwave station. The country’s post-war attempts at international broadcasting were transmitted from a shortwave station at Pori on the west coast. Opened in 1948, it provided a link with home for Finns residing abroad. Broadcasts sent out from Pori also attracted many enthusiastic listeners around the world through its popular English language broadcasts. For a time, there were also broadcasts in German and French.Cold war power battles over the airwaves soon began to drown out Finland’s small voice and a new purpose-built shortwave centre was inaugurated outside Pori in the eighties. A powerful mediumwave transmitter at the site served Finnish speaking listeners in parts of Sweden. The close down of the Pori shortwave station also means YLE will lose some listeners to its Russian service. These broadcasts are more and more aimed at the Russian minority living in Finland. YLE broadcasts daily news bulletins in English on radio and television but these are aimed for audiences in Finland.Replacing the shortwave broadcasts are an Internet service and mobile phone services as well as satellite distribution of all YLE radio channels. Jorma Laiho, Director of Corporate Technology at YLE believes few people will miss the shortwave service. However, he admits that older Finns abroad might protest at the closure of the service from Pori that has kept them informed of events back home for over half a century.(Source: YLE News/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Thursday, December 28, 2006

The New Year is almost here, and time for a brief review of what is being featured for my shortwave columns in the January issue of Monitoring Times.

For January, we'll begin in QSL Report with a focus on LOWfers and MEDfers, while the DX season remains in prime time a few months longer. Just what is this strange sounding part of the radio hobby and what goes into QSLing them ? Did you know there is a website and club devoted to this challenging part of the radio spectrum ?

QSL contributors reported verifications from Amateur Radio, Clandestine, Guam, Mali, Medium Wave, Moldova, Netherlands Antilles, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.If you're looking for logs, check out the Broadcast Logs column with logs from 0015 UTC Czech Republic's Radio Prague to Egypt's Radio Cairo at 2340 UTC. There's a bevy of stations from many worldwide stations to keep you band scanning for hours.Don't forget the center Shortwave Guide for the latest English shortwave and DRM by-hour frequency listigs. Frequencies are revised monthly, and remain M.T.'s most current source for hobbyists.

Finally, in What's New, theres a review of the Passport to World Band Radio 2007. Receiver reviews, features, Addresses Plus and Passport's Blue Pages section have become standards in the radio hobby.

There's also a review on the popular book, 208 It Was Great-Radio Luxembourg. In it's heyday it was called The Station of the Stars...read on and you'll learn what made 'Radio Luxy' the powerhouse of Europe.

Best wishes for the coming year, and get ready for a super edition from January 2007 Monitoring Times.Gayle Van Horn

The Voice of America (VOA) will add an additional half-hour morning radio news program in Amharic to cover the crisis in Somalia. The programme will be heard via shortwave in Ethiopia and the region, beginning Thursday, 28 December at 0300 UTC, with a repeat at 0400 UTC.“We know VOA’s broadcasts are vital to our audience in Ethiopia,” said Gwen Dillard, Director of VOA’s Africa Division. “They rely on our trustworthy and objective news to get the straight story on the mounting crisis there.”VOA’s Horn of Africa Service broadcasts 12 hours a week, in the Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrina languages. News and information in Amharic is currently broadcast seven days a week via shortwave on 9320, 9860, 11675, 11905, 13870 kHz from 1800-1900 UTC and will be on 13815 and 15610 kHz from 0300-0330 UTC with a repeat at 0400-0430 UTC. Programs are also available online.Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia, a country with an estimated population of 70 million people. According to recent surveys, VOA Amharic attracts 18% of the adult population on a weekly basis.(Source: Voice of America/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

In 2007, German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk will play the European anthem, Beethoven’s ”Ode to Joy”, after the German national anthem at closedown. Germany takes over the chairmanship of the European Union for six months starting on 1 January, and playing Ode to Joy was the idea of German Chancellor Angela Merkl.The European anthem is largely the work of German artists. A poem called by German Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) was set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) as part of his 9th symphony. Austrian-German conductor Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) made the arrangement which was adopted in 1985 as the official European anthem.(Source: ANP/AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Text of report by Russian news agency Ekho MoskvyMoscow, 27 December: The head of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, Mikhail Seslavinskiy, has said that the Soviet-era network of radio jamming stations should be preserved and used in case of emergency. “It has been mothballed for the last 15 years and its economic condition is bad, but it still exists and, I think, it would be preserved,” he said.“It should be kept on hold. All countries have some plans for war or serious emergency. There must be a technical opportunity to shut down radio communications if something extraordinary happens. This is a common world practice during anti-terrorist operations: jamming stations are switched on, and nobody can use mobile phones, listen to the radio or watch television,” Seslavinskiy said.Speaking about the situation with background noise which makes it difficult to listen to the BBC in Russia, Seslavinskiy said that the problem was solely technical. “I think that the problem is generated by the transmission operator. The Russian partner of the BBC should examine on what bands it broadcasts and whether its signal interferes with anyone else’s,” he said.(Source: Ekho Moskvy news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1257 gmt 27 Dec 06 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Kenyan Information and Communications Minister, Mutahi Kagwe says the government will increase its level of investment in the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to make the station more relevant to the socio-economic lives of Kenyans. KBC managing director, David Waweru, said KBC will go international by extending its radio and TV signals to the entire African region.(Source: KBC/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Seven radio stations and one television station in Serbia have been shut down for broadcasting without a licence. The Republic Broadcasting Agency (RRA) has shut down the following stations for broadcasting illegally on the territory of Belgrade: radio stations Kruna, Hit, Kriket, OK, Kontakt, Radio 24 and Maksis, and the television station Palma.Some station officials showed resistance to the officials who came to close down the stations and broke some equipment of the RRA. The Agency said that those who cause problems will have charges pressed against them.(Source: Beta News Agency via B92/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

DJIBOUTII received a full data QSL letter/folder stamped and signed by Chief of the Technical services and a sticker from Radio Television de Djibouti for a reception report on 4780 kHz in 64 days. I mailed them a printed report along with 2 IRCs as return postage. The QSL shows a black and white photo of the Radio station along with broadcast schedules of radio and TV (time & freq)in French. Radio frequencies mentioned are 1116, 1539 medium wave and 4780 kHz. Broadcast starts from 0300-2000 GMT(still they use it istead of UT) and languages are Afar, Somali and Arabic. (But I monitored them in French too!). E-mail of technical department: rtdtech@intnet.dj, and address Boite Postale 97, Djibouti, Rep of Djibouti.(Source: T.R.Rajeesh, Kerala, INDIA/HCDX)

EUROPIRATE. Cupid Radio, 15070, nice package from Dutch operator Rinus in 2 weeksfor CD I made of over 1-1/2 hours of prgming recorded on Nov 18th between 1430 and 1600 UTC. Sent 2 new QSL designs, info sheets with photos, postcard, and 3 crisp $1 U.S. bills to reimburse me for mailing the CD. (Herkimer, NY)(Source: NASWA Flash Sheet #255)

RUSSIA9960, R. Station "Tichiy Okean", Vladivostok; friendly e-mail from Alexey Giryuk (Technical Department Engineer), with an attachment containing the new Pacific State Television and Broadcasting Company "Vladivostok" QSL (nice blue QSL with f/d, but with the wrong time;should have been 0935-1000 UTC); in 8 days, for an e-mailed report, with an attached audio clip of my reception. The card shows "Tichiy Okean" in quotes, not the usually seen spelling of Tikhiy Okean. E-mail: ptr@ptr-vlad.ru and website: www.ptr-vlad.ru/ R. Station "Tichiy Okean", Vladivostok is on both 5960 kHz and 7330 kHz, from 0935-1000 UTC.(Ron Howard, Monterey,CA)

Speaking on a recent edition of Radio New Zealand International's "Mailbox" program (0730 UTC every second Monday), RNZI Technical Manager Adrian Sainsbury said, that he had been setting up remote monitoring sites at various locations in RNZI's target area so that, courtesy of computers and the internet, he can log in to hear how RNZI's analogue and digital broadcasts are being heard.

At the recent DX league AGM we talked of a future time, when city-based DXers will be equipped with such a set-up, so that they can remotely DX from quiet country locations.(NZ DX Times, NZ Radio DX League, Dec 2006)(Source: WWDXC Top News (BC-DX #787)

9615 R. Cultura 2056 - 2203. Old brazilian music followed by news from avoz du Brazil. At 2100 another station began to use the QRG so signaldeclined but still was audible. At 2203 man giving Email of R. Cultura andfull ID. Then music. SIO: 322 (Dec 17)

9630 R. Aparecida 2203 ID in portuguese followed by jingle. This eveningno trace of REE Madrid so signal was clear but weak (Dec 15)

9675 R. Cansao Nova at 1903 ID by female followed by religious program.Good signal. This one is usually the strongest brazilian on 31 meters atthe time (Dec 17)

11785 R. Guaiba 2214-2217 ads in portuguese followed by full ID and time-announcement. Then a program of sports. Nice signal on a clear QRG. Neverheard this so strong! SIO 333 (Dec 19).(Zeljko Crncic-D, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 21)(Source: WWDXC Top News (BC-DX #787)

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The good folks at Monitoring Times magazine are offering a special, limited time, discounted rate of US$14.95 on a one year MT Express subscription if you mention the BLOG page (Editor’s Page, Fed Files, Milcom, Monitoring Post, Shortwave, and Ute World) you are viewing right now. This is a great price on a great magazine and you get MT delivered electronically every month well before the print edition hits the streets.

This special offer is for first-time subscribers and renewals. This offer is available for a limited time only (must be used by the close of business December 31, 2006) and can only be used one time per customer.

And MT Express makes a great holiday gift at US$14.95 for a one year subscription.

What is Monitoring Times magazine?MT is a full-spectrum monthly magazine for the radio listener, Monitoring Times covers scanning, shortwave, military and federal comms, and other radio topics from below 500 kHz to 900 MHz and above. Presented in an easy-to-understand style by an experienced writing staff, MT helps you get the most out of your time and your equipment with practical listening tips and frequencies.

What is MT Express?MT Express is the same magazine as our printed version, but it is presented in Adobe Acrobat portable document file (pdf) format, including full color photography and active links to URLs and email addresses. It is the fastest and easiest way to get the information and frequencies you need on the radio hobby. You can see what is in current issue of MT on the MT website, including sample MT Express issue.

So if you like what we do here on the MT Blog pages and you want even more, then pick up that telephone and call the MT order desk toll free at 1-800-438-8155 (Mon-Fri 9a-5p EDT/1400-2100 UTC) and get US$5.00 off the regular price of MT Express. And remember you have to mention the BLOG page you are viewing right now in order to get the MT Express Bloggers discount.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

General Manger of the Kuomintang’s Central Investment Holding Company Wang Ching-hai yesterday said that the party-run Broadcasting Corporation of China has been sold to ex-president of UFO Radio Jaw Shaw-kong. However, Wang did not confirm a pro-DPP Liberty Times report that said BCC was sold at a price between NT$600 million and NT$700 million, citing confidential business information.The Chinese-language Liberty Times report said the Hua Hsia Investment Holding Company sold BCC to Jaw on December 22, and the transaction was confirmed by Jaw yesterday.The report also said that there have been different opinions within the company about Jaw’s bossing the company, with some arguing that BCC would become “bluer, “referring to a more staunch stance against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which they claimed would be more unfavourable to journalistic professionalism.(Source: Government Information Office, Republic of China/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Start-up Classic Rock Central Media LLC has created a new network, ClassicRockCentral.com, to reach the needs of fans of classic rock music in the US and around the world. ClassicRockCentral.com will present original interviews with rock artists and network radio programs and specials which were produced by co-founder Denny Somach and his company DSP. Many of the interviews and radio programmes originally aired on network radio during the past 25 years.ClassicRockCentral.com launched yesterday in beta form, and features interviews with The Beatles, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and members of Pink Floyd. The site is also presenting Radio On Demand with streaming network radio programmes such as a four-hour special celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd’s historic album Wish You Were Here, which ran on network radio in 2000.(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Friday, December 22, 2006

With this the blessed Christmas season upon us, it is a time of cheer and goodwill, and a time to take a break to spend with family and friends.

I hope your season is one of warm thoughts, reflection, and the sounds of celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah and all faiths. I'd like to also wish all the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families my warmest Christmas wishes. Thank you for your service to this country and your sacrifices.

As I take a few days off to enjoy the season and family, I wish all of my shortwave blog readers the best during the holidays.

Why not continue the tradition of many worldwide radio listeners this Christmas Eve? It's been 75 years since the fist Carol Service was broadcast from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge-a service which for many around the globe marks the beginning of Christmas.

"As the sunsets over Cambridge, the nine lessons, read mainly by members of the College, from a Chorister to the Provost, tell the story of the loving purposes of God as revealed in the Bible. The Choir sings carols old and new and leads the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns." Programming should be checked on any of the following frequencies and UTC times, as well as being repeated on BBC Radio 3 and available on demand at the BBC website.

Christmas Day"The Christmas Broadcast dates back to 1932, when King George V spoke on the 'wireless' to the Empire from a small office at Sandringham. The time chosen was 3 p.m. - the best time forreaching most of the countries in the Empire by shortwaves from a transmitter in Britain. The first Broadcast lasted two and a half minutes, and included the King's reflections on the closer relationships made possible by such wondrous technology." His daughter Queen Elizabeth II followed suit and has made a broadcast in every year of her reign. To this day the Queen retains her annual message to the people of the British COmmonwealth. Its one of the longer lived broadcast on the BBC World Service.

WFUV Adds Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour To Christmas Day Schedule Monday, December 25 from 7:00-9:00 PMNew York, NY—WFUV (90.7 FM, wfuv.org) will broadcast Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour, a two hour radio special including a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Mr. Zimmerman himself, as part of its holiday-program packed Christmas Day schedule. The show, airing on WFUV on Monday, December 25 at 7:00 PM, will also include Dylan-selected Christmas songs like The Staples Singers’ "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas," Bob Seger’s "Sock It To Me Santa," Johnny Paycheck’s "Jingle Bells" and Nancy Wilson’s "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," among many others. Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour, produced by XM Satellite Radio, is one of several holiday-themed specials WFUV will be airing for the naughty and nice. A complete schedule of Christmas Day broadcasts follows:

10:00 AM-12:00 Noon—Christmas Blues with host Darren DeVivo12:00-2:00 PM—The Whole Wide World Christmas with Rita Houston2:00-3:00 PM—Cool Yule with Rita Houston (featuring Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan and Bette Midler)3:00-4:00 PM—Kate & Anna McGarrigle: The Christmas Party4:00-5:00 PM—Christmas from the World Café with Raul Midon, Jonatha Brooke and Old Crowe Medicine Show5:00-6:00 PM—The Pleasures of Winter with Jay Unger & Molly Mason6:00-7:00 PM—Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show7:00-9:00 PM—Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour9:00-10:00 PM—Words and Music From Studio A with Sarah McLachlanWFUV (90.7 FM, wfuv.org) is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station, licensed to Fordham University for more than 50 years. Weekly serving over 330,000 listeners in the New York area and thousands more worldwide on the web, and a leader in contemporary music radio, WFUV offers an eclectic mix of rock, singer-songwriters, blues, world and other music with its influential City Folk® format, plus headlines from National Public Radio, local news and sports and Metro Traffic.(Source: Eva Dilmanian via Larry Van Horn TP NC)

Saturday 23 - Friday 29 DECEMBER 2006Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands' English Service - a listof the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands this week, beginning onSaturday.

SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER*** Weekend Connection ***Every Saturday, the Newsline team brings you Weekend Connection, withthought-provoking reports on the issues making headlines in the Netherlands,Europe and beyond.It's a lively mix of local colour and "the big picture". One week you mighthear how Dutch farmers are doing their part to combat bird flu, the nextweek it's about the worldwide attempt to punish crimes against humanity. Bigor small, Weekend Connection covers it all!Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1200 (Eastern NAmerica), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Africa), 0000(Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0500 (Western N America)*** Vox Humana ***Over the next few months, Vox Humana features a special collaboration withconcert pianist and astrologer Gary Goldschneider in the series "Music withthe Stars" - where the topic will be the point where music and astrologymeet.Over Christmas, the second programme of the series looks at Christmas musicand the origins and musical borrowings of Christmas Carols. Did Christmascarols come from classical music or the other way round? And is there stillemotion to be had behind the clichés of Christmas music? Find out theanswers to these and many other fascinating Christmas connundrums in VoxHumana.Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1027 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1227 (Eastern NAmerica), 1430 (South Asia), 1827 & 2000 (Africa), 0027 (Eastern N America),0127 (Central N America), 0527 (Western N America)Repeated: Sun 1400 (South Asia), Sun 1900 (N America, Africa)SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER*** Amsterdam Forum ***This week and next, special music programmes will be replacing bothAmsterdam Forum and Dutch Extra.Christmas is a time of contemplation for many people. So, in a specialprogramme to replace Amsterdam Forum, join Chris Chambers as he plays sacredmusic from around the world.There's throat singing from Siberia, and hypnotic Qawwali singing from theSufi Muslim tradition. You'll also get a chance to hear a unique Afro CubanSanctus mass from the Netherlands' leading jazz group Nueva Manteca. Theysay it's the very first time that salsa music and jazz have been integratedin the form of a mass.So, join Chris Chambers as he plays sacred music like you've never heardbefore.Have your say on the topic atwww.radionetherlands.nl/features/amsterdamforum/.Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1004 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1204 (Eastern NAmerica), 1504 (South Asia), 1804 & 2004 (Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America),0100 (Central N America), 0500 (Western N America)

MONDAY 25 DECEMBER*** Newsline ***Replacing Newsline today is Classic Dutch, Christmas musice from theLowlands brought to you by Hélene Michaud. On Christmas day in the 16thcentury, children in parts of the Netherlands sang lullabies to a littledoll representing the child Jesus. You can hear one of those cradle songsand other Christmas melodies that traveled all around Europe in our specialedition of Classic Dutch.Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1200 (Eastern NAmerica), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Africa), 0000(Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)*** The Research File ***Tune in for a festive look back at the Research File's top picks of 2006.Talking to a cat, drink driving, playing musical junk and unpacking primatebrains - just a few of the things the team has got up to in the past twelvemonths. So join Laura Durnford and Thijs Westerbeek to hear more.Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1027 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1227 (Eastern NAmerica), 1430 (South Asia), 1827 & 2000 (Africa), 0027 (Eastern N America),0127 (Central N America), 0527 (Western N America)Repeated: Thurs 1500 (South Asia), Thurs 1900 (Africa)

Roger Davis writes: "BRI should be on air December 24th Dec from 10am, using 6240kHz, features in the program includes a tribute to the late Alan Freeman who died recently, also the DJ profile is Mike Lennox, rare 60s archive, and a sprinkling of Christmas songs.Also look out for us on Christmas day morning, possibly Boxing Day and New Years Day, of course all broadcasts are subject to change or cancellation depending on the situation/availability at the transmitter site.Any messages for the Christmas Day/New Years Day broadcasts please send them in good time to britainradio@hotmail.comFormer Pirate station KBC Radio from the Netherlands is back on the air starting December 23 on 1386 kHz with 500,000 W from Kaunas, Lithuania, every Saturday evening from 23.00 to 24.00 CET [2200-2300 UTC until DST: 2100-2200 UT]. On December 23 and 30 they will start with two test transmissions.In the 70s and 80s KBC was a very active pirate on shortwave and medium wave. They are working on a special KBC International website, coming soon.Programs are mainly in English. Contact the station at info @ k-po.com

From our regular contributor, Tom Taylor, comes word of upcomingChristmas programming as:European Music RadioChristmas Eve1930 - 2000 5775 kHzProgram is a short transmission from EMR with a new output power thatwill be used for 49 metre broadcasts on Sunday nights along with 5965kHz the programs on 5775 khz will be different from our 5965 outlet.(Tom Taylor)

Programs on Christmas day will provide to you SWR elves: Miki, Häkä,RarioJaska, Esa, Pasi, Uncle-Pena and possible visitors.

At the Christmas time we don't have "real" program schedule, but probably you will heard all kind of music from pop and classical music to progressive rock from our frequencies on short- and medium waves.

For example following programs are planned to came out from SWR studios: letterbox, wine & cheese review and of course season greetings. Phone number to SWR studio during the transmissions is +358 400 995 559, phone calls and short messages are very welcome. E-mails to studio@swradio.netBest Greetings,Alpo HeinonenScandinavian Weekend Radio

This is our special Christmas Edition, and it runs to 17 mins and 42 seconds, containing lots of professionallyresearched and sourced shortwave updated schedules and news, unavailable inthe public domain.

This is what Electronic DX Press member Michael Stevenson, from PortMacquarie, New South Wales, Australia, said "Show 24 was very useful and helpful with some good news and tips. Please keep them coming as it is the most accurate information available in theforever changing world of broadcasting! Thanks for this edition and best wishes and have a terific Christmas!"

If you haven't subscribed (free) to the feed, you may do this at the siteusing Feedblitz. This means that the shows will come to you whenever newprograms are released!

The Australian DX Report audio/video presentations continue to attractinterest by people around the world, with several hundreds of downloadsevery week.

I would be glad if you would be able to distribute this message to yourradio monitoring friends, the radio communications media, or within yourDXing organisation.

(Washington, DC -- December 20, 2006)Radio Farda has introduced several new thematic programs during the last several weeks that provide listeners in Iran new depth and breadth in program content about human rights and democracy issues in their own country as well as in Iran's relationship with the United States. This past Monday, December 18 marked the debut of "Human Rights Magazine," a twelve-minute program that airs Monday through Thursday at 10:00PM Tehran time (1:30PM Washington time; Monday's inaugural broadcast may be heard on the Internet at rtsp://realaudio.rferl.org/ch21/2006/12/18/20061218-183000-FRD-program.rm). The program, produced in Washington, focuses on covering breaking news and tracking developments concerning the human rights situation in Iran and around the world. Reporting on the fates of political prisoners and student activists, "Human Rights Magazine" also provides Radio Farda listeners information on the major international human rights reports about the situation in Iran as well as exclusive interviews with the families of political prisoners, human rights experts and activists and victims of human rights abuses who have escaped Iran. A second new program, "Democracy Magazine", will debut on December 24 at 10:00PM Tehran time (1:30PM Washington time). This 25-minute weekly program will be devoted to democracy -- what it is, what it represents in Western societies and what it means to young people abroad.

Radio Farda Washington staff will interview experts, officials, and prominent opinion leaders who have promoted democracy around the world.Radio Farda's Washington-based broadcasters also produce, in addition to two 30-minute daily news magazines, a weekly ten-minute "US-Iran Magazine" and a weekly 10-minute "Washington Magazine". The "US-Iran Magazine", launched in September 2006, is a weekly review of U.S. government actions and statements concerning Iran that features sound actualities from State Department press conferences, White House briefings, hearings before the U.S. Congress, and the many conferences in Washington that address U.S.-Iran relations. "U.S.-Iran Magazine" also features original, exclusive interviews with U.S. officials, policymakers and academics, including U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack (November 11; rtsp://realaudio.rferl.org/ch21/2006/11/11/20061111-173000-FRD-program.rm) and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Erica J. Barks-Ruggles (December 16; rtsp://realaudio.rferl.org/ch21/2006/12/16/20061216-173000-FRD-program.rm).The "Washington Magazine", which debuted on December 11 (rtsp://realaudio.rferl.org/ch21/2006/12/11/20061211-183000-FRD-program.rm), offers

Radio Farda listeners a fast-paced look at a wide range of topics linked to Washington, DC. While covering political topics as well, the program also addresses events in Washington's vibrant arts, entertainment and cultural scene. In less than four years, Radio Farda has become the most popular international broadaster in Iran with a 13.5 percent weekly listenership rate as measured by Intermedia Survey Institute during its most recent survey in May 2006. Audience research indicates that listeners welcome Farda's format of news and information plus entertainment programming. (http://www.rferl.org/releases/2006/12/452-201206.asp via http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/(Source:MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMINE-65, GOURHANGA, GHORAMARARAJSHAHI, BANGLADESH)

CHINA Firedrake feeds. So far the Firedrake jamming feeds appear to havehad a common source, the delays between different transmitters having beennormal for satellite feeds. Today, however, I noted a change to threedifferent feeds, all apparently carrying the usual "programme", but withwidely different starting times.

As it seems, there is a main feed,carried by several jamming stations, and two separate feeds, each beingcarried by one specific jamming station only (synchronized audio for alltransmitters carrying the respective feed).

Not only Mandarin, but also Tibetan and Uzbek are being jammed, Iconfirmed that yesterday. However, the latter two languages are onlyjammed by one or two jammers, usually with Firedrake. Uighur usually isalso heavily jammed, while Cantonese is free of jamming. Firedrake is ofcourse only a complement to the dominating CNR-1 jamming signals.(Olle Alm, Sweden, December 20/21)(Source: WWDXC Top News (BC-DX #787)

I picked RSDA on 6215 kHz sign-on at 1700 UT Dec 18, with the NationalAnthem of the Sahrawi Democratic Republic, followed by OM and YL givingthe frequencies of 1550, 7425 and 700 kHz in meter band and kHz, stillannouncing the ex freq of 7425 kHz. Followed by Holly Quran recitation,followed by local songs, around 1730 UTC OM with intro of a program calledthe "journey of the night". Playing Egyptian and Lebanese music askinglisteners to participate in the program, followed by another local hit.(Tarek Zeidan-EGY SU1TZ, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 18)

Tell us about that goal you've put off just too long! Groove Zone wants to know about your New Year's Resolutions. If you send us 50 words or less on the following topic, you could win a prize: "What's the one goal you have that you've put off just too long?"Here our the contest rules to keep in mind:1. Keep your entry to 50 words or less.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

We'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh, and/or whatever other holidays may be pending now!

We shall be on the air this evening on 3275 kHz with the Johnson Viking 2, 100 watts carrier.

Broadcast will commence sometime before 0100 UTC, but probably not immediately (0003 at this moment, there are some loose ends of personal business I may have to tie up). Once begun, it may stretch through the evening hours. (The Poet)

BAHRAIN 6010.1 on 12 Dec at 1915 UT noted a weak station with western pops. Buried by IRIB at 1930. Today 13 Dec I checked this and it was again audible around 1750, but 6010 was too crowded until 1900. After 1900 I heard this station with pops (George Michael etc) and few announcement in (British) English. Mentioned twice "National Day 16th" which fits with Bahrain and by passing what sounded like "... Radio Bahrain, this wonderful, wonderful station". That fits R Bahrain even better :-)

At 1930 IRIB started again on 6010. This station had a carrier and upper side band but I couldn't check if there was audio on lower. R Bahrain used to be AM/U. Haven't seen loggings of R Bahrain on this frequency for a long time. Maybe it has been here for some time or is this reactivation?

Again, the ID I heard was not too clear, so I hope someone could confirm Bahrain on this frequency. (Jari Savolainen-FIN, hcdx Dec 14) I have been noting Bahrain on 9745 AM/U lately at significantly improved levels (S-4 to 4+) on DX Tuner Sweden in the 2130 time frame, with no hint of the former co-channel stas V. of Han or HCJB. A few months ago it was hard to dig Bahrain out of these co-channel occupants. Of course this channel is continuous Arabic music, so programming much different than 6010. Seems like they might be using full 60 KW power now, whereas before using only lesser output - maybe a revival all around w/ Bahrain?!(Bruce Churchill-CA-USA, hcdx Dec 14)(Source: WWDXC Top News-BC DX # 786)

The first radio station in the new local radio infrastructure for youth in Kurdistan, Radio Lawani Kurdistan (Kurdistan Youth Radio), has started its regular broadcasts. Radio Lawan is a project initiated and supported by the Ministry for Sports and Youth, Kurdistan Regional Government. This is a non-profit project inspired by the Swedish community radio model.The first step of the radio infrastructure was built in Ranye east of Hewler, Radio Lawani Ranye. The radio station was built from scratch in 25 days. It was completed the 22nd October 2006 when test broadcasts started. The studio is built with modern technology which provides high quality broadcasting and enables creative studio work. As a part of this project a technician, Daniel Araya, from Swedish Public Service Radio visited Kurdistan in December. The aim of this visit was to initiate further cooperation and establish contacts.The second radio station is under construction in Kirkuk. It will be completed in the following days where test broadcasts also will take place.(Source: Kurdish Media/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)